Official TJ Admissions Decisions Results for the Class of 2025

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You hit the nail on the head here. And while they talk a good game about “improving the pipeline” and “raising the quality in K-8” - which all progressives also agree is necessary - the reality of it is that the status quo folks don’t want the increased competition for elite college admissions that will come from providing opportunities for these underrepresented groups in environments like TJ.

They know that investing in the pipeline is a massive effort that will take decades - by which point their manufactured superstars will have exited that pipeline.

How the F do you know what people advocating the status quo want? I am so sick of people arguing based only on claims that their opponents have evil intent. Make real arguments for a change. The proponents for the status quo are simply arguing that the newly admitted are likely under prepared and the result will be they will wash out or TJ's education will be watered down. If the status quo folks were interested in college admissions, most would be better off in their base high school.
The "progressives" have been in charge of FCPS for years. If they actually wanted to improve the the pipeline for all of K-8, they have had their chance. They have failed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Your kid is very much the exception to the rule. While I am sure there are a handful of kids like yours. I would hope kids like your got into TJ but I am not certain that TJ is even the best fit for kids who are that advanced.

I don't necessarily care about whether my kid gets into TJ. He might be better served taking real college classes at GMU instead. It is the case now that my kid's local high school only offers one year of math beyond AP calc. This means my kid won't have math classes in 11th or 12th grade at the base school. If FCPS accelerates the kid, then FCPS needs to find some way to provide appropriate math instruction all the way through 12th grade. If it's not going to be TJ, then they should expand DE classes or virtual classes for the kids who need them.

In the old system, kids like mine crushed the tests, had glowing teacher recommendations, and almost invariably got accepted. It's quite possible that my kid will get an A- in some AAP English class because while he writes a good essay, he's terrible with creative writing. He also would not do a great job with any TJ essays that amount to bragging about yourself. I have no clue whether he'll be accepted in the new system.

When I was in FCPS, it was before TJ opened and I did start taking college classes at GMU at 16. Although I had to fulfill some graduation requirements, I was able to take many classes for college credit that were more in line with my interests than what would likely be required at a general magnet program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You hit the nail on the head here. And while they talk a good game about “improving the pipeline” and “raising the quality in K-8” - which all progressives also agree is necessary - the reality of it is that the status quo folks don’t want the increased competition for elite college admissions that will come from providing opportunities for these underrepresented groups in environments like TJ.

They know that investing in the pipeline is a massive effort that will take decades - by which point their manufactured superstars will have exited that pipeline.

How the F do you know what people advocating the status quo want? I am so sick of people arguing based only on claims that their opponents have evil intent. Make real arguments for a change. The proponents for the status quo are simply arguing that the newly admitted are likely under prepared and the result will be they will wash out or TJ's education will be watered down. If the status quo folks were interested in college admissions, most would be better off in their base high school.
The "progressives" have been in charge of FCPS for years. If they actually wanted to improve the the pipeline for all of K-8, they have had their chance. They have failed.

The people being admitted seem about the same as the 30% they replaced.

[Anonymous]

There are thousands of kids who meet the requirements of TJ. Always have been. Way more qualified than admitted. The admitted students will be fine. But they are not your kids. This isn’t yours to worry about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Your kid is very much the exception to the rule. While I am sure there are a handful of kids like yours. I would hope kids like your got into TJ but I am not certain that TJ is even the best fit for kids who are that advanced.

I don't necessarily care about whether my kid gets into TJ. He might be better served taking real college classes at GMU instead. It is the case now that my kid's local high school only offers one year of math beyond AP calc. This means my kid won't have math classes in 11th or 12th grade at the base school. If FCPS accelerates the kid, then FCPS needs to find some way to provide appropriate math instruction all the way through 12th grade. If it's not going to be TJ, then they should expand DE classes or virtual classes for the kids who need them.

In the old system, kids like mine crushed the tests, had glowing teacher recommendations, and almost invariably got accepted. It's quite possible that my kid will get an A- in some AAP English class because while he writes a good essay, he's terrible with creative writing. He also would not do a great job with any TJ essays that amount to bragging about yourself. I have no clue whether he'll be accepted in the new system.

When I was in FCPS, it was before TJ opened and I did start taking college classes at GMU at 16. Although I had to fulfill some graduation requirements, I was able to take many classes for college credit that were more in line with my interests than what would likely be required at a general magnet program.

Yeah.I really think this is some unnecessary hand wringing about the future. Calculus in 10th grade isn’t super unusual even at the base schools. Somehow they all figure it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Your kid is very much the exception to the rule. While I am sure there are a handful of kids like yours. I would hope kids like your got into TJ but I am not certain that TJ is even the best fit for kids who are that advanced.

I don't necessarily care about whether my kid gets into TJ. He might be better served taking real college classes at GMU instead. It is the case now that my kid's local high school only offers one year of math beyond AP calc. This means my kid won't have math classes in 11th or 12th grade at the base school. If FCPS accelerates the kid, then FCPS needs to find some way to provide appropriate math instruction all the way through 12th grade. If it's not going to be TJ, then they should expand DE classes or virtual classes for the kids who need them.

In the old system, kids like mine crushed the tests, had glowing teacher recommendations, and almost invariably got accepted. It's quite possible that my kid will get an A- in some AAP English class because while he writes a good essay, he's terrible with creative writing. He also would not do a great job with any TJ essays that amount to bragging about yourself. I have no clue whether he'll be accepted in the new system.

When I was in FCPS, it was before TJ opened and I did start taking college classes at GMU at 16. Although I had to fulfill some graduation requirements, I was able to take many classes for college credit that were more in line with my interests than what would likely be required at a general magnet program.

Yeah.I really think this is some unnecessary hand wringing about the future. Calculus in 10th grade isn’t super unusual even at the base schools. Somehow they all figure it out.

We did hand wringing and got ourselves in twist and used covid as an excuse to change a system that produced a great school. Now that we have screwed the undesirables through a process that even a judge thought was racist, we will say there is too much handwringing. Nothing to see here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You hit the nail on the head here. And while they talk a good game about “improving the pipeline” and “raising the quality in K-8” - which all progressives also agree is necessary - the reality of it is that the status quo folks don’t want the increased competition for elite college admissions that will come from providing opportunities for these underrepresented groups in environments like TJ.

They know that investing in the pipeline is a massive effort that will take decades - by which point their manufactured superstars will have exited that pipeline.

How the F do you know what people advocating the status quo want? I am so sick of people arguing based only on claims that their opponents have evil intent. Make real arguments for a change. The proponents for the status quo are simply arguing that the newly admitted are likely under prepared and the result will be they will wash out or TJ's education will be watered down. If the status quo folks were interested in college admissions, most would be better off in their base high school.
The "progressives" have been in charge of FCPS for years. If they actually wanted to improve the the pipeline for all of K-8, they have had their chance. They have failed.

Occam’s Razor. In this case, the application is that people acting in self-interest are doing so for self-interested reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You hit the nail on the head here. And while they talk a good game about “improving the pipeline” and “raising the quality in K-8” - which all progressives also agree is necessary - the reality of it is that the status quo folks don’t want the increased competition for elite college admissions that will come from providing opportunities for these underrepresented groups in environments like TJ.

They know that investing in the pipeline is a massive effort that will take decades - by which point their manufactured superstars will have exited that pipeline.

How the F do you know what people advocating the status quo want? I am so sick of people arguing based only on claims that their opponents have evil intent. Make real arguments for a change. The proponents for the status quo are simply arguing that the newly admitted are likely under prepared and the result will be they will wash out or TJ's education will be watered down. If the status quo folks were interested in college admissions, most would be better off in their base high school.
The "progressives" have been in charge of FCPS for years. If they actually wanted to improve the the pipeline for all of K-8, they have had their chance. They have failed.

Occam’s Razor. In this case, the application is that people acting in self-interest are doing so for self-interested reasons.

By Occam's Razor, I view you as an idiot, perhaps acting out of self interest or perhaps just day drinking. See how easy argumentation at this level is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah.I really think this is some unnecessary hand wringing about the future. Calculus in 10th grade isn’t super unusual even at the base schools. Somehow they all figure it out.

Is there a list somewhere of GMU courses that are accepted by FCPS for high school credit? I was under the impression that kids were only allowed to receive high school credit for the DE classes, but not just any higher level GMU math class.

Regarding the bolded: That all depends on the specific base school. The schools where it isn't super unusual (Langley, McLean, and perhaps a few others) are likely to have more advanced offerings in place for the kids taking calc in 10th. My kid's middle school only has around 50 kids taking Geometry in 8th out of about 600 8th graders and absolutely no algebra II classes. It would be highly unusual for kids at the base high school to take Calc before 11th grade, so there are no extra offerings. Mine will take it in 9th, meaning he will completely exhaust the base school's offerings after 10th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are thousands of kids who meet the requirements of TJ. Always have been. Way more qualified than admitted. The admitted students will be fine. But they are not your kids. This isn’t yours to worry about.

The ones not admitted were not my kids either. Perhaps if this discussion were limited to parents of kids directly affected by admissions decisions, this thread would be a lot shorter.

In other words, nice try to silence your opposition. Please live by the same standard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah.I really think this is some unnecessary hand wringing about the future. Calculus in 10th grade isn’t super unusual even at the base schools. Somehow they all figure it out.

Is there a list somewhere of GMU courses that are accepted by FCPS for high school credit? I was under the impression that kids were only allowed to receive high school credit for the DE classes, but not just any higher level GMU math class.

Regarding the bolded: That all depends on the specific base school. The schools where it isn't super unusual (Langley, McLean, and perhaps a few others) are likely to have more advanced offerings in place for the kids taking calc in 10th. My kid's middle school only has around 50 kids taking Geometry in 8th out of about 600 8th graders and absolutely no algebra II classes. It would be highly unusual for kids at the base high school to take Calc before 11th grade, so there are no extra offerings. Mine will take it in 9th, meaning he will completely exhaust the base school's offerings after 10th grade.

As it is now he could take honors Precalculus, calculus AB, calculus BC, Honors AP Statistics, Computer Science
AP Computer Science Principles, and multi variable calc and linear algebra. And he can continue to study outside of school as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You hit the nail on the head here. And while they talk a good game about “improving the pipeline” and “raising the quality in K-8” - which all progressives also agree is necessary - the reality of it is that the status quo folks don’t want the increased competition for elite college admissions that will come from providing opportunities for these underrepresented groups in environments like TJ.

They know that investing in the pipeline is a massive effort that will take decades - by which point their manufactured superstars will have exited that pipeline.

How the F do you know what people advocating the status quo want? I am so sick of people arguing based only on claims that their opponents have evil intent. Make real arguments for a change. The proponents for the status quo are simply arguing that the newly admitted are likely under prepared and the result will be they will wash out or TJ's education will be watered down. If the status quo folks were interested in college admissions, most would be better off in their base high school.
The "progressives" have been in charge of FCPS for years. If they actually wanted to improve the the pipeline for all of K-8, they have had their chance. They have failed.

Occam’s Razor. In this case, the application is that people acting in self-interest are doing so for self-interested reasons.

By Occam's Razor, I view you as an idiot, perhaps acting out of self interest or perhaps just day drinking. See how easy argumentation at this level is?

Made my point better than I could have. Well done.

I love people who think they’re making a point but instead end up making the opposite point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are thousands of kids who meet the requirements of TJ. Always have been. Way more qualified than admitted. The admitted students will be fine. But they are not your kids. This isn’t yours to worry about.

The ones not admitted were not my kids either. Perhaps if this discussion were limited to parents of kids directly affected by admissions decisions, this thread would be a lot shorter.

In other words, nice try to silence your opposition. Please live by the same standard.

The thread would be a lot shorter, but also a LOT less informed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah.I really think this is some unnecessary hand wringing about the future. Calculus in 10th grade isn’t super unusual even at the base schools. Somehow they all figure it out.

Is there a list somewhere of GMU courses that are accepted by FCPS for high school credit? I was under the impression that kids were only allowed to receive high school credit for the DE classes, but not just any higher level GMU math class.

Regarding the bolded: That all depends on the specific base school. The schools where it isn't super unusual (Langley, McLean, and perhaps a few others) are likely to have more advanced offerings in place for the kids taking calc in 10th. My kid's middle school only has around 50 kids taking Geometry in 8th out of about 600 8th graders and absolutely no algebra II classes. It would be highly unusual for kids at the base high school to take Calc before 11th grade, so there are no extra offerings. Mine will take it in 9th, meaning he will completely exhaust the base school's offerings after 10th grade.

As it is now he could take honors Precalculus, calculus AB, calculus BC, Honors AP Statistics, Computer Science
AP Computer Science Principles, and multi variable calc and linear algebra. And he can continue to study outside of school as well.

Honors precalc will be taken in 8th. Calc AB for a highly gifted kid is absurd. That leaves:
9th: Calc BC
10th: multivariable/linear algebra
11th: AP stats
12th: AP comp sci

This path is not reasonable. AP stats is a significant step down from AP calc. AP comp sci may fulfill a math requirement, but it isn't really a math class. TJ has adequate math classes, but they are exclusive to TJ. There is no option for base school kids to enroll in these classes or even enroll in the equivalent GMU classes but receive FCPS credit.

[Anonymous]

Do FCPS math credits matter? If someone does Calc in 10th grade and doesn't take any more math, will FCPS refuse to give a diploma? If so, FCPS is even more screwed up than I thought.
AP Stats is worthless after Calc; you should take a Calc-based Stats course. AP CS isn't math.